Room: A Novel by Emma Donoghue

This is a unique and amazing story about a five year old boy named Jack who has lived his entire life in an 11-by-11 windowless, remodeled garden shed with his mother.  She was adducted seven year earlier by a stranger referred to as “Old Nick”.  He has assaulted her nearly every day since the kidnapping and Jack is their offspring.  It’s in Jack’s remarkable voice that the story is told.  Jack doesn’t know that other children are real, has never worn shoes, and his skin has never been exposed to sunlight.  His eyesight hasn’t properly developed, especially not depth perception, because he’s never focused further than eleven feet.  Through Jack’s narration he appears to be a happy child, much loved and content.  He doesn’t know he lives in a horrid place because his mother has created a home for him there.  Ma has been diligent in schooling her little boy and reads to him daily.  All Jack can say about “Old Nick” is he brings groceries and disappears the trash, but he’s not human like us.  Despite her love and protection toward Jack, some days Ma goes into deep depression.  Jack is starting to get to big and too smart for him and his mother to stay in the “Room” without going crazy.  Somehow, Jack’s mother has to find a way to get them both out of the “Room” safely, when escape seems impossible.

You know this child will be affected by all the traumatic events he’s suffered his entire life.  This book is painful and sad to read but can be a gentle story, full of love.  It is a celebration of devoted motherhood and the strength of the human spirit.